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Did you know that the top F&B distributors in Singapore have global brands approaching them every day of the week? You only get one chance to make a good impression so you need to make sure you have a great sales pitch that hits on all the key elements of...

It takes more than just a great brand to achieve long term success in the Singapore food and beverage retail (supermarket) channel. A winning distribution strategy is critical. Thats what this video is all about.

Ten nations, 620+ million people, and a great thirst for growth: Southeast Asia is one of the fastest growing economic regions in the world. Singapore is the key to this magnificent region. In this video we discuss the importance of Singapore in your Southeast Asian export strategy and how to...

Despite the many Free Trade Agreements (FDA) that Korea has with its trade partners, the Korean government has put measures in place to restrict the importation of certain food products. For example, to protect local farmers and fishermen there are import quotas on various items in agro-fishery sectors.

Choosing the right market entry strategy for Singapore often involves a trade-off between convenience and control. For some, opting to sell to a consolidator in your home market who has established links with the two major supermarkets in Singapore is convenient.

Across the 8 Asian markets I work in, food and beverage importers and retailers constantly emphasise price sensitivity as one of the major constraints for imported products. While this is most definitely true, when the argument is raised during negotiations the importer will typically focus solely on the export pricing...

For processed food imported into Korea it is better to have exact date of expiry (or best before) printed in the packaging. This is because the Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) only recognises the expiry date that is printed on the packaging.

Korea has a number of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with countries in the European Union. However, if you are trading goods manufactured in the EU it does not mean your products will automatically avoid paying duties when your goods are imported into Korea.

International trade is a complex beast and even for the most seasoned exporter there comes a time when a small detail overlooked has expensive and time-consuming repercussions. This is particularly true for Food and Beverage (F&B) exporters who must operate within a heavily regulated environment.

Singapore is the keystone of ASEAN Food and Beverage. With ten member nations, 620+ million people, and a great thirst for growth: ASEAN is one of the world’s hot spots of economic growth. Singapore is the integral keystone to this magnificent region.

Korean Food and Drug Association (KFDA) regulations can be a little confusing for food and beverage exporters. For example, its more convenient for an importer to ship at least 100kg per SKU because if the load size falls below 100kg it is not officially recorded in the KFDA system, therefore,...

The leading distributors in Korea work closely with retailers. Often, a distributor has particularly strong relationship with one retailer that means they can get new products listed quickly and they can get real-time feedback from the retailer about what categories are doing well, new product feedback, ideal price points etc.

Queuing for freezer space in Thai retail. These days, trying to get your products listed into the frozen section of supermarket chains in Thailand is a bit like standing in line for a hip nightclub. Limited space means that its one-in-one-out and only the very cool and extremely famous get to...

It sounds a bit like a type of fruit, but the Checksumer is actually Korean slang for the savvy consumer who checks-out (researches) a product before making their purchase. Parents are a particularly large segment of Checksumers as they search for safe and healthy products for their children.

There is nothing more frustrating to an exporter than out of stock issues. You have already jumped through six flaming hoops to get your product to market only to have your sales stymied because your product is out of stock.

Major Korean F&B exporters have recognised the importance of the halal food market by ramping up production of halal certified goods for their international customers. Shinsegae Food, a leading food and beverage manufacturer, is actively developing halal certified products in order to penetrate into Southeast Asia countries with large Islamic populations.

Ubereats is bravely penetrating an already saturated food delivery market in Korea. Worth an USD $15 billion, Korea’s food delivery market is dominated by strong local businesses. Ubereats is vying for a slice of the app based delivery pie which is currently worth USD $4.5 billion.

Negotiating an export deal in the food and beverage sector in Asia is a lot like playing soccer, except there are a lot of defenders and very few strikers. In the game of exporting, defenders come in all shapes and sizes from trade barriers to poor communicators.

In the western world a great deal of importance is given to first impressions and presentation. Prestige and professionalism are judged not only by a company or individual’s achievements, but also by the way they present themselves to the world. This is not the case in Asia where looks can be deceiving.

Hosted by KOTRA, Seoul Food 2018 will be held at KINTEX, in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do from 1st - 4th May. The event is the largest F&B expo on the Korean calendar and one of only four major food exhibitions in Asia.

It’s Cherry Blossom season in Korea right now and clever brands are releasing Limited Edition offers in a trend that is becoming a key strategy to drive sales. Emphasising scarcity with ‘Now or Never’ marketing stimulates action and compels purchasing.

In order to survive the rapidly changing business environment in Korea leaders in the food sector are searching for new growth by forming alliances. Lotte Confectionary has made a bold move into the Korean cereal market by partnering with Pepsi Co. to manufacture Quaker under license.

Taiwan’s aging population is driving a shift in the type of products being carried by F&B retailers. With the number of senior shoppers exceeding 20% for the first time, retailers are offering a more diverse range of items that cater to the needs of this aging consumer group.

Leading industry stakeholders in Hong Kong say the pastry sector hasn’t see a “wow product” since the popular cheese tart, two years ago. Product heroes like the cheese tart often start with a limited time offer (LTO) launch by a leading group, such as Maxims cake shop and are quickly...

Cooking seems to have become a national obsession in Korea. Celebrity chefs enjoy the kind of fame you would normally associate with pop stars. One of the most popular TV shows on air at the moment is a cooking show that brings together celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsey and local...

The Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Korea, attracted more than star athletes this year. Enterprising F&B companies were quick to take advantage of the thousands of hungry tourists with cleaver gimmicks and well placed pop up restaurants.

Skipping breakfast in favour of more sleep before the hectic commute to work has become common practice for Koreans. The irony is that people are increasingly aware of the importance of breakfast for their health and performance.

Changing consumer habits due to a fast paced lifestyle has propelled 7-Eleven into the largest chain "restaurant" in Taiwan. With over 5,500 outlets in strategic locations and plenty of ready-to-eat meal options it is by far the most convenient choice for a quick bite.

Domestically produced meat, although much more expensive than imported meat, has been a popular gift item in Korea for many years. Its is perceived to have a higher value than imported meat. However, with new regulations forbidding giving gifts with a value over KRW 100,000 to business acquaintances, the sales...

The Malaysian government has introduced new requirements on wine imports that have significantly slowed down entry of imported wines into the market. Import licenses for all alcohol importers in Malaysia expired on 31 December 2017 and it could take as long as three to four months for importers to obtain...

Ice creams, sweet pastries and other sticky treats have long been marketed towards women. However, in recent years, consumption of deserts escalated significantly among men in Korea. In the categories of ice cream, jelly, candy and slush, the consumption was higher for men in their 30s than women.

F&B sector is increasingly numbers driven. The unavoidable outcome of increasing scale is complexity and while popular wisdom tells us that greater scale equals more revenue, it doesn’t necessarily mean increased profits. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that only those companies that are able to master the complexities of their...

Asian markets remain a key focus for New Zealand food and beverage companies wanting to grow their export business. While growth prospects remain high over the long-term, challenges exist. Here are some insights gained from F&B distribution partners we work with across Asia on the state of business in each country.

There’s no doubt that New Zealand companies create great food and beverage products. We’ve got access to excellent raw materials, fresh water and clean air. We have sophisticated technology and we’re innovative.

Hong Kong is intense. Just navigating its teeming sidewalks and constant noise can put you on edge. It's a city of Alfa men and women moving from one opportunity to the next, deftly dodging setbacks as they advance towards the next ‘big thing’.

A wise man by the name of Sam Ham (yes, that's his real name) once taught me that people are either Streakers, Browsers or Students. Sam Ham is a world renowned Professor of Communication Psychology at the University of Idaho.

"Let the Golden Goose live." New Zealand’s Food and Beverage (F&B) companies looking for new markets in Asia often view China as the nexus of international trade, but for some, it is a Golden Goose. Motivated by visions of gleaming golden eggs by the container load, some exporters force their way inside...

It’s easy to drown in data. Statistics about an export market’s GPD, population growth, buying patterns and consumer trends are merely a click way. And yet, extrapolating the relevant information you need to validate new export markets can be extremely difficult.

The Four Asian Tigers; South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, are resilient, free markets with a thriving middle class and a thirst for international goods. They sit apart from their Asian neighbours as role models for growth and prosperity.

Tariffs on New Zealand exports to Korea have tumbled under the NZ-Korea Free Trade Agreement that finally entered into force in December 2015. From duties in excess of 300% on some goods to well below 10% or even zero on key export items.

The drastically lower New Zealand dollar was a dark cloud over New Zealand in September 2015, but its wasn't all bad news. The silver lining was that our Food and Beverage (F&B) sector rapidly became much more competitive in the global market place.

The signing of the New Zealand – Korea FTA is welcome news for New Zealand exporters. South Korea is New Zealand’s fifth largest export market and the FTA will bring tariff savings to a range of sectors that have been suffering under high Korean import tariffs.

Let’s be honest. Volume is the major driver in the food service industry. We all want it and for good reason. Volume gives us critical mass. Economies of scale that allow for reduced costs and leaner margins. The net result is increased competitiveness, more frequent orders, and happy customers.

Plan ahead. Get your meetings lined up at least four weeks in advance of your trip. Focus on the capitals. Most business is conducted in the major city of each country so plan your itinerary accordingly. Give yourself enough time.